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Xian has one of China's best and most distinctive cuisines. Influenced by its position just south of the Yangtze and at the mouth of the Huangpu River, the region is rich in a selection of freshwater fish and shellfish. Dishes from this area are lightly and delicately seasoned.
Xian's people have a 'sweet tooth', and more sugar is used in Xian than in any other part of China.
Xian's neighbors also contribute to the diversity of the area's cuisine: Hangzhou, known for its West Lake carp; Zhejiang to the west, for its vinegar; and Shaoxing, for its warmed rice wine. The following dishes are
authentic dishes invented in Xian and its surrounding areas.
Xian Food - Big Dam
Crab, or Dazhaxie in Chinese
Dazhaxie is a special type of crab discovered in the lakes located not
far from Xian. The best time to enjoy Dazhaxie is in the fall and
winter. When being caught, crabs are tied up with string lines and placed in bamboo containers.
The crabs are simply steamed and ready to be served. Some restaurant may
add few flavor ingredients to the dish to make them tasty. Dazhaxie is
recommended to be consumed with vinegar. Locals are also quite fussy about when to consume male crabs and when to consume female crabs.
Xian Food -
Smoked Fish Slice
Smoked Fish Slice is an ideal menu for the tourists who love spicy food.
Smoked Fish Slices are prepared with fresh fish and marinated with
spices to make them taste like being smoked. It is particularly a great
meal while serving with the tasty stewed pork flavored with dry squid dish,
some vegetables and white rice.
Xian Food -
Xian Crispy Duck
This dish is prepared by steaming a
fresh duck with Sichuan peppers, ginger and scallions. The steamed duck
is then lightly fried. This dish is typically served with plum sauce and steamed bread.
Beggars Chicken
Seasoned chicken wrapped in lotus leaves is baked in a dough pastry.
Xian Food -
Little Steamed Buns
Unlike typical buns seen in northern China, Xian little steamed buns are very small
in size. They are easy to swallow. The buns are usually steamed in
bamboo containers. The unique features of these type of buns are juicy
content with extremely thin skin. This dish is very popular in China,
particularly in the restaurants serving Dim Sum.
Xian Food - Smelly Soybean Cake
Everyone's initial reaction when seeing this dish is to hold their nose
as it really smells. But it is very delicious when you actually eat it. The smelly tofu is a popular local food
that can be found virtually everywhere on streets. Tofu is fermented with
several "secrete" ingredients before being fried in a deep old pan. Despite its
different smell, most foreign travelers love it after getting used to
it. You may want to try it too. |
have. The restaurants in
Xian cover a wide range, from western style steak house to fancy
Chinese dining halls, from local Xian cuisine snacks to hamburger
type of fast food restaurants. You name it, Xian has it. With literally thousands of restaurants available, dining choices in
Xian are practically unlimited. After a busy schedule of business meetings or a long day tour of the city, the travelers can either enjoy the luxuries at an upper class restaurant or dine cost-effectively at the smaller family-run facilities located all over the city.
We have made an emphasis on the local foods in Xian, i.e., the
famous Xian cuisine.
